No charges against man arrested in Longmont homicide

Posted on 08/01/2017

GREELEY, Colo. (Weld County D.A.) – The man accused of killing another man last week in a Walmart parking lot in Longmont will not face charges.

Weld County District Attorney Michael Rourke declined to file any charges today against Joseph Anderson, 34, of Northglenn. He was arrested last Wednesday for second-degree murder after he fatally shot 33-year-old Keith Williams on July 23 at the Longmont Walmart, located at 2285 East Ken Pratt Boulevard.

After a thorough investigation by the Longmont Police Department, it has been determined that Anderson was acting in self-defense when he shot and killed Williams.

According to reports, Anderson was meeting with a female acquaintance in the parking lot when Williams showed up and appeared “angry.” According to the female, she and Williams recently broke up.

Williams then grabbed a tire thumper, measured at about 16 inches in length, and aggressively approached Anderson. Surveillance video shows the two engaged in a brief fight before Anderson shot Williams once at close range. Williams was later pronounced dead at the Longmont United Hospital from a single gunshot wound to the chest.

Due to this evidence and witness statements collected at the scene, Anderson will not face criminal charges.

“This was a difficult case to sort through, so I would like to thank the Longmont Police Department for their diligent investigation,” Rourke said. “We hate for anyone to lose a life, and we can’t imagine the pain the victim’s family must be going through. However, in this particular case, the evidence points to self-defense, so in the interest of justice, charges will not be filed.”

Anderson was immediately released from custody following the notification that charges would not be filed.